Women's Soccer

Women's Soccer Opens Season On The Road

Ellen Phillips and the Bulldogs open their 2009 season this weekend in Minnesota

Aug 27, 2009

The Ferris State University women's soccer team will open its
2009 regular-season slate on the road this weekend (Aug. 28 and 30)
with a pair of non-conference matches in the state of Minnesota.

Ferris State should be tested right out of the starting
gate as the Bulldogs start the 2009 campaign going up against
nationally 15th-ranked Minnesota State this Friday (Aug. 28) at
Mankato, Minn. The season-opening contest will
get underway at 4 p.m. (EDT) at the Pitch at Gage Towers
on the MSU campus. The Mavericks compiled a 16-4-2
record overall in 2008, which included a 10-2-1 ledger in the
Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC). Minnesota
State was chosen as the 2009 preseason favorite to win the
NSIC title.

Following a day to rest, Ferris State wraps up its
two-match road trip on Sunday (Aug. 30) against Winona (Minn.)
State. A 1 p.m. (EDT) start time is scheduled for the
matchup. Winona State will bring an 0-1 overall record into
the contest after suffering a 3-1 season-opening loss to Mesa State
(Colo.) on Thursday (Aug. 27) at Kearney, Neb. The Warriors
were 19-3-1 overall and 12-0-1 in the NSIC.

For Ferris State, the expectations for success are high entering
the 2009 season.

"This is the best preseason we've had since I came to Ferris
State," said fourth-year head coach
Neathan Gibson. "The ladies have
practiced hard and have played through the tireness which every
team undergoes in the preseason. We also have no serious
injuries to report which is always a positive going into a season.

" Our depth is much better than in past seasons and it's
encouraging to allow us more options and to change the dynamics,"
added Gibson.

The Bulldogs return 14 letterwinners from last season's squad
with six of those being starters. FSU also welcomes back nine
of its 12 top points leaders from the 2008 team.

Ferris State, which posted a 9-9-1 overall record with a
fourth-place 7-6-1 mark in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic
Conference (GLIAC), opens the home portion of its 2009 schedule
next Tuesday, Sept. 1, versus Lewis. The home opener is
scheduled for a 2:30 p.m. (EDT) start at the FSU Soccer
Field in Big Rapids, Mich.